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Washington, D.C. November 10, 2000 Part of the lecture given by Chiara Lubich on 10th November 2000 at the Catholic University of America in Washington, on the occasion of the conferral of the honorary doctorate in education. Our Movement can also be viewed from theological, philosophical, cultural, social, economic, educative and artistic standpoints, as well as from ecumenical or interreligious perspectives. I would like to share with you now some of the ways that the more significant points of this spirituality have had an impact in the area of education. Actually, our Movement and the stages of its development can be viewed as one continuous, extraordinary educational event. All the necessary factors are present, including a well-defined educational theory and method which underlie our efforts in this field. But first let us ask ourselves: what is education? Education can be defined as the itinerary which a subject (either an individual or a community) pursues with the help of one or more educators, moving toward a goal considered worthwhile both for the

Loppiano, 6 May 1995  An answer to the inhabitants of the little town of Loppiano. It is God’s dream that Chiara Lubich sees taking place... What will the united world be like, really, according to the plans of God? Chiara: ... You see, everyone is going towards the recapitulation that Christ will bring about of all people, of all things. The united world is not a imaginary thing that we in the Focolare came up with; it’s Christian imagination, it’s a Christian thing. So we are going towards the united world. Whether world events bring it nearer or not, we are going towards a united world. We don’t know whether it will happen sooner or later, but we are going in this direction. How do I envisage it? I envisage that all peoples will remain, of course, all the cultures, traditions and languages. In this unity of the world, many peoples will mingle with other peoples.  For example, there are immigrants in Italy; in future a culture will emerge that is

Castel Gandolfo, 29th February 1992 Chiara’s response to a young person helps us to see the meaning of being “empty of self” and being “nothing”, so as to live fully in the path of Love. It can help us live well during the Year of Mercy. Eli: Dearest Chiara, I was very impressed by how you live "being nothing". Could you tell us something about how we can reach the point of living this reality of "being nothing" as you do? Chiara: Well, I try to be "nothing", now too, for example, by living the Word or by doing the will of God and not my own will. The will of God is for me to be here with you; it seemed to be the right thing to do, it seemed to me to be the will of God. So I am not doing my own will... but, to tell you the truth, I was so happy to come that my will coincides with the will of God. So, I try

Chiara Lubich shared the light she experienced during a period of illness. “Over the last few days I have understood a great many things ... That tears are part of the Gospel too: ‘Blessed are those who mourn’ (Mt 5:4). I’ve understood that health is a gift we are not aware of and for which we are infinitely grateful to God when we lose it. We really thank God for all the time we have enjoyed good health, not realising it was a gift from God.   I’ve understood that suffering which leads to exasperation is a new countenance of Jesus forsaken; that at a certain level of suffering you no longer talk to people, but it becomes an almost continuous conversation with God, distilled from the suffering like a fine liqueur. I’ve understood that when you call upon Jesus with faith - and I have very often had the grace of a full faith - he never fails to help us... perhaps for a little while... but that is already

This writing is noteworthy for its simplicity.  Living Mary helps us understand God who is Love. If the Lord gave her to us as our mother, how can we not believe in his love? A mother never ceases to love her wayward son; she never ceases to await his return when he has gone afar. She desires nothing but to see him again, to forgive him, to embrace him again: because a mother’s love fills everything with the scent of mercy. A mother’s love is something that is always above any painful or difficult situation in which her son finds himself. Hers is a love that never fades in the face of moral, ideological or any other kind of turmoil that may overwhelm her son. Her love, because it rises above all things, wants to cover over everything, to hide his mistakes. If a mother sees her son in danger she does not hesitate to risk everything, to throw herself onto the train tracks if her son is about to be

Rocca di Papa, 3rd March 1983 An invitation to live better the Holy Year of Mercy, with a mother’s heart and without measure. “Let among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8:7). Jesus said this to those who wanted to stone the adulteress. The central idea in Jesus’ commands is always love. This is why he doesn’t want us Christians to condemn anyone. In fact he says, “Do not judge,” and proclaims, “Blessed are the merciful.” Jesus wants mercy. Nevertheless, from what he says one could conclude that there is someone who could throw the first stone: whoever is without sin. This is certainly not one of us, we are all sinners. But there is a person who is without sin. And we know who she is: the Mother of God. Could Mary, then, “throw a stone” at someone who erred? Did she ever do such a thing when she was on earth? We know our Mother. We know what Scripture says